Wisconsin Is Through Crying About Disputed Goal

From: USCHO.com
by Dave Starman

MADISON, Wis. (Jan. 26) — The Debacle in Denver is two weeks old but still fresh in the minds of the Wisconsin Badgers.

They don’t dwell on it; it is in the past. This is a team fighting for its national playoff life, and the Badgers are living in the “is” and not the “was.” However, the “was” might be the rally cry to create a great “will be.”

Since being victimized at Magness Arena, the Badgers have found life. They have won or tied the close games in Alaska that they just played, and blew out Denver the night after legally scoring the game tying goal with under a second to go. They have found life with the return of three players from the World Junior Championships, and Kyle Turris’ return has electrified the squad.

Historically, it has been said that there is no more dangerous entity than a motivated man or group and a cause. In this case, the Badgers have a cause. The Who sang the song “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The Badgers are singing “Don’t Get Screwed Again.”

“We needed to get focused quickly after that happened and Coach Eaves did a great job of doing that and turning it into a rally cry for us,” said junior captain Ben Street. “He told us it won’t be the last time we get hosed in life and that we need the proper response. His message was don’t be in a position where we have to get that game tying goal in the last seconds. Have business taken care of by that point.”

Eaves is a great leader and has always been so. In recent years, he has overseen a dramatic comeback in a gold-medal game to win a World Junior Championship with Team USA, and he orchestrated a dramatic run to a national title two seasons ago.

“He really lit a fire under us,” said Street, a junior alternate captain and on-ice leader. “He did a great job of getting our minds focused on a proper response and we have responded with five points in three games.” (rest of article)